(CNN) – A national security adviser to President Barack Obama reaffirmed on Saturday the administration’s support for Israel’s “right to defend itself” as violence raged on the border between Israel and Gaza.

“We believe that the precipitating factor for the conflict was the rocket fire coming out of Gaza,” said Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser. “We believe that Israel has a right to defend itself and will make its own decisions about the package that they use in that regard.”FULL POST

(CNN) – Republican Rep. Allen West's push to have votes recounted in his Florida congressional race against Democrat Patrick Murphy was granted late Friday when the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections ordered a retabulation of all eight days of early voting to begin Saturday morning.

In Florida's 18th district, Murphy continues to have a slight lead over West. He declared a victory in the race last week, but West, who has been lobbying for a recount citing issues in the way the ballots were counted and a slim margin of votes between the two, has yet to concede.FULL POST

(CNN) – In the first full week after the election, Washington's focus quickly shifted to the deadline Congress and President Barack Obama face to reach a budget deal to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff.” Each side highlighted the necessity for bipartisan cooperation to dodge another financial crisis.

In the Republican weekly address, Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire said the American people expect Congress to work together to avoid the economic impacts, adding the threat of the looming federal spending cuts and tax increases bring an opportunity for lawmakers to "change our country's irresponsible spending path."FULL POST